Just over a week after Wayne Rooney delivered a ‘Welcome to the Nike family’ message to Rory McIlroy and the England and Manchester United striker was totally unaware the World No. 1 had missed the cut in last week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
Rooney was among a surprise group of Manchester United players walking the course on the opening day of the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.
Joining Rooney were team mates, Ryan Giggs, Johnny Evans, Paul Scholes, Michael Carrick and Brazillian defender Rafael out following a number of groups including those featuring Colin Montgomerie, Justin Rose, Martin Kaymer, Jason Dufner and Louis Oosthuizen.
Wayne Rooney following the action on day one of the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters. (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)
While the majority were dressed in black, Rooney was noticeable in a red Nike shirt and sporting a Nike golf cap, the same that McIlroy wore for a first time last week in Abu Dhabi.
But when Rooney was asked what he thought about McIlroy’s effort last week he said: “No, I don’t know how he played.”
And then when asked do you play golf, Rooney’s response was again a polite: “No.”
However it didn’t deter Rooney and his team mates enjoying a break in their four-day Doha training camp ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup encounter against Fulham at Craven Cottage.
“I just can’t believe how far they hit it,” said Giggs after shaking hands with Rose at the 13th tee.
“You watch them hitting off the tee and you can’t see the ball.
“But it’s like when you see any sport live as it’s so much better and you appreciate how good these guys are.
“We have a final training here in Qatar in the morning and then we head back home and get ready for the game on Saturday.”
Die-hard Chelsea fan Rose was just as delighted to meet the Man U stars.
“It gets your attention out there when you’ve got Rooney, Ryan Giggs, Carrick and some of the boys following you,” said the World No. 5.
“They’re megastars in their sport and it was brilliant to have them out here seeing a bit of golf.
“I’m a diehard arch enemy as I follow Chelsea but it was good having them here at the golf for a few hours.
“It’s an interesting one as I know a lot of Premiership footballers and they all want to be golfers and we all want to be footballers.”
However Rose’s demeanour changed at the 17th when he had to call a penalty on himself when his ball moved, albeit slightly, at address.
“It is the Rules of Golf but I do feel hard done by and it’s just a timing thing, but let’s cut to the chase as the greens are not perfect with little ridges, humps and hollows out there,” said Rose in a round of 68.
“There are also a lot of indentations and when I put my putter behind ball, and I know I didn’t cause the ball to move, the ball found a little indentation in the green and I’m deemed to cause it to move when I know in my heart I didn’t”
Portugual’s Ricardo Santos, who was voted‘Rookie of the Year’ last year, birdied his closing two holes in a round of 65, and just three days after sharing fourth in Abu Dhabi.
Damien McGrane, decked out in a yellow cap, shirt and shoes to help promote a new line Adidas golf shoes, heads the Irish contingent in signing for a 68.
Michael Hoey signed for a 70, Gareth Maybin and Peter Lawrie recorded level par 72s and Paul McGinley a one over par 73.
